Introduction:

Madar, (Caltrops procera/Caltrops gigantean), a plant of Apocynaceae family, generally found in dry barren highlands of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh in India and also in some other countries like African countries, Middle East countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is known by so many names in different languages as Ark, Toolphal, Kshirparn, and Asphot in Sanskrit, Akwan, Aak, and Madar in Hindi, Madar, Kings Crown, and Apple of Sodom in English etc. In African countries and Middle East countries Madar is also known by the name ‘milk weeds’, perhaps due to the latex they produce by plucking leaves, flowers, fruits and soft parts of their stem. People believe that Madar is a poisonous plant and very harmful for human being and cattle, but it is partly true. It is a miraculous plant having many medicinal values, mostly of external uses but few examples are there in Ayurveda and Homeopath where oral uses are also suggested in some complications. Describing its properties Ayurveda says “bright like sun and effective like mercury”, hence it is also mentioned as ‘the botanical mercury’ in some Ayurvedic texts in Bhava Prakash and Bhaishaj Ratnavali. Three species of Madar are found in India,

1. Red Madar: This species bears small white flowers with umbellate lateral cymes having red to pink patches inside.
2. White Madar: This species bears small white flowers with umbellate lateral cymes having pale yellow or white inside as well.
3. King Madar: This a rare species of this plant having only stemmed with no branches, only four leaves and shiny silver bright flowers.

The flowers of Madar are so beautiful that they are often used in making flower tassels in tribal India and Africa. The flowers of Madar are widely used in the temples of India as decorative and ornamental material during festivals and fairs. Flowers of Madar are offered to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman and Shani Dev during common worships and also in festive occasions by Indian women.

Description:

Madar plant has two common varieties C. procera and C. gigantean i e. Red Madar and White Madar, both the varieties have plants 2.5m to 3m high, multi-branched stem full of big leaves and beautiful flower bunches. The leaves of the plant are sessile and sub-sessile, opposite ovate, chordate or often amplexicaul at the base. The flowers are about 4cm to 5cm in size, with umbellate lateral cymes and colored white from outside but red, pink, pale yellow and white from inside. Flowers are too beautiful to attract not only human being but also insects like butterflies and bees. C. procera has flowers with sweet fragrance but the flowers of C. gigantean have no fragrance at all. The seeds are compressed, broadly ovoid with a tufted micropylar (a minute opening in the integument of an ovule) coma of long silky hair.

Chemical Composition:

When the leaves or flowers or soft stem of Madar plant are plucked we get white milky latex in large amount, just after the flow of latex we can observe a pale yellow sap which is found in all the parts of the plant, it is extremely bitter in taste and considered to be harmful for eyes and soft skin of face but due to its chemical composition, it is a good remedy for many complications in human body. Calotropin, strychnine and glycosides present in the sap has made it a good medicinal aid for many complications related to muscles and bones. Madar Elbon is another chemical compound found in the latex of the plant, it is crystalline and very effective compound also known as Mandarin in Ayurveda. It is soluble in Ether and Alcohol but insoluble in water and edible oils. It has a strange property that it solidifies in hot but melts in cold. It is used in preparation of many medicines in Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha and Homeopath.

Properties:

Both the varieties of common Madar, C. procera and C. gigantean have almost same properties as observed from medicinal point of view, both have anti-inflammatory properties, both have wound healing capability, both are antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-parasitic. Both the varieties are used to prepare medicines for sperm enhancing and both have mosquito repelling properties also.

Uses:

The uses of Madar plant as a whole and also the five parts of the plant can be classified into three segments viz. Cultural Usage, Medicinal Usage and Industrial Usage.

1. Cultural Uses: According to Shiv Puran, flowers of Madar had been used by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the decoration of their dwellings and meditation places. Parvati often used the flowers of Madar as ornaments for herself and for her sons. Garlands of Madar flower are offered to Lord Shiva for peace, prosperity and stability in the society. Flowers of Madar are also offered to Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman and Shani Dev in order to please them. Madar is also one of the major parts of the nine astrological trees (Nav-graha Trees) being used in religious rituals in Hindu religion. The plant is commonly found in almost all temples in India. Its leaves are considered to be one of the five leaves used as ‘Panch-Pallav’, a ritual assortment of five different leaves used as a totem by the Marathas. Not only in India but also in some other countries Madar plant is a part of their culture as floral arrangements in wedding and other cultural events are done by flowers of Madar called ‘Widuri’ in Thailand and Indonesia. Flowers of Madar are used in funerals in Cambodia.
2. Medicinal Uses: Madar plant as a whole has been used in India for a long time as traditional medicine for muscular cramp, cuts, wounds and Vata Doshas. Many ancient Indian literatures have mentioned Madar as treatment of wounds and injuries during wars and battles and some more health issues. Some specific medicinal uses of Madar as Ayurveda, Yunani, and Siddha medicinal practices suggest are as follows:

*Having some chemical compounds with anti-inflammatory property, extracts of Madar leaves and soft stem are suggested by Ayurvedic and Yunani practitioners to apply over affected area to get immediate relief.

*Extracts of this plant are also used in the treatment of Eczema, Psoriasis and some other skin disorders.

*Extracts of leaves, stem and flowers are used to treat various bacterial and fungal pathogens, due to antimicrobial properties of the plant. Presence of various bio active compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids develop antimicrobial properties in Madar plant. A recent study suggests that the latex of Madar plant has significant antimicrobial activity against various bacterial and fungal pathogens including Staphylococcus, Aurous, Escherichia coli and Candida alb cans.

*The latex of Madar has been used topically to promote wound healing for thousands of years in India and African countries. Medical science has studied its wound healing properties as it helps in the formation of granulation tissues and facilitates the healing process.

*Some traditional practices involved using Madar extracts to relieve pain and discomfort due to its analgesic properties. The extracts of stem baked in dung fire give instant relief in toothache.

*Anti-parasitic properties of the plant help treating parasitic infections especially in cattle and other domestic animals.

Side Effect/Precautions: Oral use of extracts of Madar may cause vomiting, diarrhea, slow heart beat and convulsions, so oral use of this should be done only in the guidance of authorized medical practitioners. External or topical uses are safe enough. The latex of Madar plant is harmful for eyes and soft skins of infants so infants and children should be kept away from the plant and the extract of plant.

3. Industrial Uses: Madar yields a durable fiber commercially known as bow-string of India, are used to make ropes, carpets, fishing nets and sewing threads. Floss obtained from seeds is used as stuffing, Madar cotton are used to make pillows. In Australia and Middle East, a fermented mixture of Madar leaves and salt is used to remove hair from goats and sheep skin to produce leather.

Conclusion: Though Madar is a plant found in abundance but it is valuable for us and our society. It has socio-cultural aspect as well as medicinal values. Very few of us know that the plant has also its industrial significance but it is truth.

FAQs:

1. What are the common names for Madar?

Madar is also known as Apple of Sodom, Milk-Weed and Rubber Bush.

2. Is Madar toxic?

Yes, its milky latex is toxic enough for babies and harmful for eyes.

3. Is Madar an invasive species?

Yes, in certain areas Madar can become invasive and disrupt native ecosystem.

4. Is there any ecological benefits of Madar?

Despite its toxic nature this plant can serve as a habitat and a food source for certain insects and butterflies contributing to local biodiversity.

5. Can Madar be grown as an ornamental plant?

Due to its beautiful flowers and leaves it may serve as a decorative plant, it may be grown but there may be a challenge on safety issue for children.

6. Is Madar a drought resistant plant?

Yes, Madar is adapted to arid and semi-arid environments.